<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-08-002359
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20070810
<FILING-DATE>20080205
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080205
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FROMM FREDERICK R
<CIK>0001248666
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31031
<FILM-NUMBER>08577381
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>8008651922
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>WAVE WIRELESS CORPORATION
<STREET2>1996 LUNDY AVENUE
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95131
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AIRSPAN NETWORKS INC
<CIK>0001105542
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3663
<IRS-NUMBER>000000000
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>WA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>777 YAMATO ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 105
<CITY>BOCA RATON
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33431
<PHONE>561-893-8670
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>777 YAMATO ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 105
<CITY>BOCA RATON
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33431
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001105542</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AIRSPAN NETWORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AIRN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248666</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FROMM FREDERICK R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AIRSPAN NETWORKS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>777 YAMATO ROAD, SUITE 310</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33431</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-09-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Director Options become exercisable as to 625 shares on September 10, 2007, with the remaining becoming exercisable for an additional 625 shares per month for 23 months, and wil be fully exercisable on August 10, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not Applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher H. Cunningham, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
